170 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBOENE 1737 



suppose the frequent failure of crops so incident to hop- 

 grounds; no other growth cultivated by man has such 

 frequent and general failures as hops." 



This note was not used in ' The Natural History 



of Selborne ' as published by its author, though it 



appeared in the selection from his MSS. made by 



/ Dr. Aikin, published in 1795. It has now long been 



the practice to plant male hops in hop-gardens. 



On July 23rd, 1787, Mulso recurs to the old 

 subject of his friend's deferred publication. 



" Did you consult your brother about your book, and its 

 publication ? I feel impatient. As it is your only child, 

 I hope you will not let it be a posthumous one. You cannot 

 imagine the pleasure you would take in daddling and nursing 

 it, and in the speeches that would be made you on its being 

 so promising, and the features of it so handsome. Then the 

 pride you would take in seeing it dressed in its red and gold, 

 and keeping company with Lord Leigh in the new library at 

 Oriel. But seriously speaking, your diffidence prevents a 

 great deal of credit to yourself, and of satisfaction to the 

 world. In point of profit there is certainly a white day 

 to every author; which, if you seize it, is well; if you let 

 go, it is difficult to recover. The aid of your brother in 

 giving a ton and a currency is of vast importance ; and the 

 zeal of your friends to recommend it and forward its 

 notoriety. All this depends on the present time ; and will 

 grow languid and cold, when you are less on the public 

 stage yourself, and cannot second the efforts of your friends. 

 Too frigid caution will make you listen to discouragements ; 

 and, believe me, there is more jealousy stirring in the world 



